Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of Clays

Most natural sedimentary clay contains organic matter, and even a small amount of organic matter will have a great impact on the physical and mechanical properties of clay. In order to clarify the influence of organic matter content on clay soil, the illite-quartz mixture was mixed with natural amor...

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Main Authors: Yue Gui, Qiumin Zhang, Xiaqiang Qin, Jianfei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Advances in Civil Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6654121
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author Yue Gui
Qiumin Zhang
Xiaqiang Qin
Jianfei Wang
author_facet Yue Gui
Qiumin Zhang
Xiaqiang Qin
Jianfei Wang
author_sort Yue Gui
collection DOAJ
description Most natural sedimentary clay contains organic matter, and even a small amount of organic matter will have a great impact on the physical and mechanical properties of clay. In order to clarify the influence of organic matter content on clay soil, the illite-quartz mixture was mixed with natural amorphous peat soil (organic matter content is 50%) in different proportions for studying the influence of different organic matter contents on the physical properties (specific gravity, Gs; moisture content, w; void ratio, e; liquid limit, wL; plastic limit, wp; plasticity index, Ip) and shear characteristics (cohesion, c; friction angle, φ) of clay soil. The experimental results found that, with the change of organic matter content, the specific gravity and void ratio of clay changed linearly, while the water content, Atterberg limit, shear strength, cohesion, and friction angle changed nonlinearly with the increase of organic matter content. Moisture content and Atterberg limit have a turning point when OC = 7.5%. Shear strength, cohesion, and friction angle all have obvious turning points when OC = 7.5% and OC = 37.5%. The variation of moisture content and Atterberg limit with organic matter content indicates that OC = 7.5% may be the limit value for the different forms of organic matter in the clay. When OC ≤ 7.5%, the organic matter in clay is in the bound state; when OC > 7.5%, the bound organic matter reaches saturation; and the free organic matter gradually increases. The change law of shear strength characteristics with organic matter content shows that the interaction between minerals and organic matter exhibits different shear characteristics under different organic matter content. When OC ≤ 7.5%, clay shows mineral properties, when 7.5% < OC ≤ 37.5%, clay shows mineral-free organic matter properties, and when OC > 37.5%, clay shows free organic matter properties.
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spelling doaj-art-d3de63675af04630a92426f4bc8d67912025-02-03T01:28:31ZengWileyAdvances in Civil Engineering1687-80861687-80942021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66541216654121Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of ClaysYue Gui0Qiumin Zhang1Xiaqiang Qin2Jianfei Wang3Department of Civil Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650504, ChinaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650504, ChinaChina MCC20 Group Corp. Ltd., Shanghai 201900, ChinaYunnan Construction and Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., Kunming, Yunnan 650504, ChinaMost natural sedimentary clay contains organic matter, and even a small amount of organic matter will have a great impact on the physical and mechanical properties of clay. In order to clarify the influence of organic matter content on clay soil, the illite-quartz mixture was mixed with natural amorphous peat soil (organic matter content is 50%) in different proportions for studying the influence of different organic matter contents on the physical properties (specific gravity, Gs; moisture content, w; void ratio, e; liquid limit, wL; plastic limit, wp; plasticity index, Ip) and shear characteristics (cohesion, c; friction angle, φ) of clay soil. The experimental results found that, with the change of organic matter content, the specific gravity and void ratio of clay changed linearly, while the water content, Atterberg limit, shear strength, cohesion, and friction angle changed nonlinearly with the increase of organic matter content. Moisture content and Atterberg limit have a turning point when OC = 7.5%. Shear strength, cohesion, and friction angle all have obvious turning points when OC = 7.5% and OC = 37.5%. The variation of moisture content and Atterberg limit with organic matter content indicates that OC = 7.5% may be the limit value for the different forms of organic matter in the clay. When OC ≤ 7.5%, the organic matter in clay is in the bound state; when OC > 7.5%, the bound organic matter reaches saturation; and the free organic matter gradually increases. The change law of shear strength characteristics with organic matter content shows that the interaction between minerals and organic matter exhibits different shear characteristics under different organic matter content. When OC ≤ 7.5%, clay shows mineral properties, when 7.5% < OC ≤ 37.5%, clay shows mineral-free organic matter properties, and when OC > 37.5%, clay shows free organic matter properties.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6654121
spellingShingle Yue Gui
Qiumin Zhang
Xiaqiang Qin
Jianfei Wang
Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of Clays
Advances in Civil Engineering
title Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of Clays
title_full Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of Clays
title_fullStr Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of Clays
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of Clays
title_short Influence of Organic Matter Content on Engineering Properties of Clays
title_sort influence of organic matter content on engineering properties of clays
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6654121
work_keys_str_mv AT yuegui influenceoforganicmattercontentonengineeringpropertiesofclays
AT qiuminzhang influenceoforganicmattercontentonengineeringpropertiesofclays
AT xiaqiangqin influenceoforganicmattercontentonengineeringpropertiesofclays
AT jianfeiwang influenceoforganicmattercontentonengineeringpropertiesofclays